Within the mustard seed layer, there was no ground. Walking steadily in the darkness relied entirely on a profound, almost mystical sense of touch, something Bai Shengyi had long since experienced.
However, when her foot met empty air, she couldn't help but cry out.
"Ah!"
"Ayi!"
Bai Qingjiang looked up, and saw that the white luminescence and the figure that had been nearby moments ago had vanished.
On the other side, Bai Shengyi had just stepped into an unknown space when she sensed a terrifying crisis, the likes of which she had never felt. Her hair stood on end, and she immediately curled into a ball, rolling on the ground.
"Swish!"
A spike, trailing black flames, shot past where she had just been.
Bai Shengyi did not get up.
Immediately after, countless spikes shot out with a dense, net-like barrage, "swish, swish, swish." Wherever these spikes landed, black smoke would erupt from the ground. They landed on vegetation, and the plants instantly turned to dust.
That’s right, there was vegetation here.
The spikes continued to fly, and Bai Shengyi dared not move. Holding her breath, she used her mental and spiritual power to shield herself, her gaze scanning her surroundings.
It was clear that this was a completely new space, but she didn't know if it was the nameless space her father had mentioned his mother being in.
Unlike the impenetrable darkness of the mustard seed layer, everything here was a dull gray and dim. The sky was overcast, gray-black stones were scattered everywhere, and the vegetation was also gray and very short, clinging to the ground, inconspicuous.
Yet, Bai Shengyi dared not be careless.
The unease in her heart lingered. Bai Shengyi rarely felt such trepidation. She touched her chest, hearing her heart pound relentlessly, "thump, thump," as if it were about to leap out—
"Get out!"
Bai Shengyi’s spiritual power formed a dagger, which she then swung back to stab at her own chest!
Sharp pain shot through her, but she seemed not to feel it, staring intently at her heart. There, a red worm, the size of a grain of rice, seemed to have merged with her blood vessels, barely discernible unless one looked closely.
Fortunately, she had detected it in time. Just a little more, and this worm would have reached her heart!
Her spiritual power vibrated the worm away, and her mental power surged forth. Bai Shengyi not only had to guard against such worms in the surroundings but also carefully dodge the continuously flying spikes, her face deathly pale.
"Shengyi, what happened?"
The Samsara Brush, which had been happily rolling in her sea of consciousness, suddenly felt a tumultuous upheaval within. It immediately knew something had happened to Bai Shengyi and quickly flew out.
Bai Shengyi couldn't afford to be distracted. She wanted to kill the worm but found she couldn't. She could only force it out of her body.
The small red worm turned black as soon as it touched the ground. If Bai Shengyi hadn't been watching it, she might have been fooled.
The Ten Directions Underworld Fire burned it, but the worm still lived. The Dragon Chasing Star Fire burned it, and it was still alive.
"Even divine fire can't kill it, what on earth is this thing?"
Bai Shengyi panted, her mind stretched to its absolute limit. She had never seen such a tiny creature. It seemed to appear out of nowhere, its vitality so tenacious…
And those flaming spikes not far away…
"Whoosh!"
A large mass of red flame spewed from the Samsara Brush. The worm that had refused to die moments ago was now thoroughly dead!
It was the Blazing Sun Vermillion Fire!
She hadn't expected this treasure, snatched from Yun Youyue, to have such an effect.
"Shengyi, be careful!"
The red spiritual light had clearly attracted the source of the spikes. The spike, mid-air, changed course and shot towards Bai Shengyi like a rain of arrows. The Samsara Brush quickly drew a large net in the air, blocking all the spikes.
It turned its head and said irritably, "Why are you spacing out now! Hurry up and run!"
Bai Shengyi was already running!
As she moved, her foot landed, and only then did she discover that the gray ground was covered with dense, tiny worms. They lay there silently. As Bai Shengyi stepped on them, they were immediately repelled by her spiritual power, revealing withered yellow grass blades.
"Holy hell, holy hell, holy hell!"
Bai Shengyi was going mad!
What in the world was this place and these things!
Her trypophobia was acting up!
Goosebumps rose all over her body. Bai Shengyi swung the Samsara Brush and urged, "Quick, set it on fire! Set it on fire!"
Her hands were equally swift in forming hand seals, enveloping herself layer by layer with mental and spiritual power, while simultaneously probing into her body again.
As expected, more worms had entered her body!
How did these things get in?
After forcing them out of her body, Bai Shengyi had been pondering this question. But before she could find an answer, she saw the true form of the "mastermind" behind the fiery spikes.
It was a black flood dragon. As it moved, Bai Shengyi realized this black flood dragon actually had three heads!
Its massive flood dragon heads were held high, stretching its body, which was as wide as a person, to its full extent. This made the fleeing Bai Shengyi on the ground seem like an ant.
"Little Samsara, quickly wake up Little Vine Leaf and have it scout the way!"
Bai Shengyi commanded as she thought, not noticing that on the flood dragon’s seven-inch mark, a familiar figure was seated.
It was Yun Youyue, who had disappeared not long ago!
"Bai Shengyi!" Yun Youyue gritted her teeth, her hand gripping the Lock Gu Jade Ring tightening uncontrollably.
It truly was a case of what you wish for coming to you without effort. She had been thinking about taking revenge on Bai Shengyi after leaving, and she hadn't expected to run into her again so soon!
Thinking of this, Yun Youyue couldn't help but feel fortunate that she had obtained the legendary Lock Gu Jade Ring, which could control divine beasts. Now, even this three-headed black flood dragon submitted to her.
As long as she willed it, the black flood dragon could help her kill Bai Shengyi.
No, that wasn't enough!
How could she let her die so easily? Wouldn't that be letting her off too lightly?
"Drive her into that swamp!"
The Qingshen Vine quickly found a safe route for Bai Shengyi.
"Master, go this way. Not only is the spiritual energy abundant here, but there are also no small worms. It's very safe."
Bai Shengyi paused. Hearing the Qingshen Vine's description, she felt that this place might not be safe at all.
However, the black flood dragon behind her gave her no chance to hesitate. It suddenly retracted its spikes, and its massive flood dragon head lunged forward, unexpectedly knocking Bai Shengyi into it.
"That black flood dragon didn't follow me in!"
Bai Shengyi's heart skipped a beat, and she became extremely vigilant.
Her caution proved to be correct.
She had barely regained her footing when a section of the ground beneath her suddenly gave way, revealing an ugly spirit beast's head. Stepping back, she found herself completely surrounded by a group of spirit beasts from all sides!
Void Beasts!
There were Void Beasts here too!
"Shengyi, I know what this place is!"
Amidst the Samsara Brush's shriek, Bai Shengyi leaped, dodging the Void Beasts' attacks. At the same time, she collided with a giant black flower that suddenly appeared in mid-air, its petals unfurling!
Bai Shengyi thrust her sword at the flower, using the force to flip backward in mid-air. However, her peripheral vision caught sight of a somewhat familiar figure faintly appearing in the center of the flower!